Tool for removing lamp bases



July 25, 1950 J. sHAPlRo ETAL 2,516,651

TOOL FOR REMOVING LAMP BASES Fied March 4, 1947 l INVENTORS www ATTO RN EY Patented July 25, 1950 Unirse TAT-Es PATENT orFl VT 0L 'FOR LAMP BASES .Jack fshapiroeand Marvin Shapiro., Bronx, N. Y.

Application March fi, 1947, Serial No. 732,276

(Cl. 81--3l SH-aims'. l

Our present invention relates vto tools yforrem-oving the bases of electric llamps from electric sockets.

It is well 'know-n that considerable diioulty is frequently experienced byr electricians and others in removing a, lamp lbase from an electric socket due to corrosion of the base in its socket, par ticularly in out-door installations vsuch as, for example, out-door electric signsand the lamp iis tures of theatres,V and `due lto painting of indoor as well as out-door lamp v:t-xtures. When a llamp burns out and the baseV thereof is stuck in its socket or when V'the glass bulb of the 'lamp is broken, removal of v.the base is a dicult and a' time-consuming iob. These edli'culties and objections'are eliminated by the ftool of the present invention. Further, in accordance with one -of the objects of this invention, the tool maybe used for removingthe bases of 'lamps ofthe preiocussed type in which the base has a bayonet type of connection with its socket, or the tool may be used for removing the screw-threaded type bases from screw-threaded sockets, and where the diameters of lamp :bases .of .either type .are about the same, the same tool may be used' for removing either typerof lamp 'base fromits socket.

Another object of 4the invention is the :pro:w

vision of a tool which is of simple construction,`

durable, and easy to operate.

The-above and other objects, featuresandadvantages of our invention will befully understood from the following description considered inconnection with the accompanying illustrative draw.- ings.

Inthe drawings:

Fig. l is `a side view of. a tool embodying the present invention, showing the tool inserted in a' lamp base of the pre-focussed type for removing such base from its socket;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional `View of th tool;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View, on :a larger scale, on the line `3*--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View on the line *1 -tief Fig. 2, the lamp base gripping members beingfin projected posit-ion;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the end portionoiithe too-l, the lamp base gripping members fbe'ing in retracted position;

Fig. 6 is a plan View of a Vgripping member;

Fig. 7 is a vview similar Ato Fig. 4, showing a modication or another form of the invention.

'Referring now to thefdrawings in detail, .the tool l0 embodying the present invention `is made of steel'or other suitable material and comprises! an operating member l2, a 'helder or support 14 and lamp base gripping members 16. As here shown operating member t2 is in ithe form of `a rod and the support l is in the form of a sleeve in which :the `operating member 'I2 `is turnable about its longitudinal axis, the internal cylin- V drical surface I8 of the sleeve providing :a 'bearing for the rod. The rod is provided with Aa handle 20.

'Holder .U5 has an enlarged internalcircular end portion "22 :and operating member 'I2 has an .enlarged circular part 2i which is in fixed relation to said operating Amember and has `a rotary iit in said end -.portion d2 Yof the lhelder and on the internalannular shoulder Z6'. of the latter. The. edge surface portions :21S oi 'the holder are `'flush with'the .outer surface of part :24, said sufra-cent sition iby the peened over edges .34 of' segmental' portions 23., `'.'1Elf1e inner surface oa-member 32 fis slidably engaged by the adjacent surfacesofgrip-v ping lmembers Vlet, the latter being movable oppositey directions through the Ldiarnetrcally opposite. openings ,-36 of the guide groove formed by edges F39. Said openings are defined by .the edge suriaces 2.6 and by the confronting surface portions ,of .member SI2 -ltogether with the outer endrnortions of edges 3d. 1

'Ihe `gripping members t6 are moved transverselyof operating .member l2 and' holder i4 -by suitable mechanism. .which is operable :by turning member l2 in zrelationftofholder t4. -Saidv mecha'-` nism comprises crank .pins 31.8 which are'xed to' and Aproject iromend rant of saidoperating member and which engage the companion gri-nf` ping 4members in transverse yslots All thereof. Theyslot 4t' of each gripping `mem-ber- ;is .formed between the laterally-projecting :portions 42 -vvhioh are spaced in-wardlyof the opposite end portions M ofthe gripping member. lSaid .end portions M terminate vpointed ends :66 ito .provide a good purchase on the lamp base inthe operation `or the tool for turning thejbase in its socket. side-edges d3' .oflateralportions A2 slidably zen..-V gage vthe adjacent edge of Ythe guide groove orfthe holder M andthe two -gidnrzl'ils members are ln slidable engagement with each other at their adjacent side edges D.

Instead of the crank-pin mechanism provided in the tool for retracting and projecting the gripping members IS, any other suitable mechanism may be provided. In Fig. 7 there is illustrated an alternative mechanism which comprises a spur gear 52 on operating rod i2 and rack teeth 54 on the gripping members Ilia which correspond to the gripping members l 5.

The tool is preferably provided with releasable means for preventing relative turning movement of operating member or rod I2 and sleeve or holder I4 when the gripping members I6 (or la) are in their retracted positions, enclosed by the end portion of holder I4. The means provided for this purpose comprises releasable interengag-l ing means on member i2 and holder I4. More particularly, a sleeve 5S is mounted on rod I2 for limited movement thereon longitudinally thereof and is held against turning movement on said rod by a cross pin 58 which engages said sleeve in motion-limiting opening Sil. lSleeve 5B is provided With one or more projections `62 which are engageable in recesses 154, respectively, in the adjacent end portion 65 of holder sleeve I4. Sleeve 5E and holder portion 66 are preferably knurled.

^ In Fig. 1 the tool I0 is shown inserted in a lamp base B mounted in a known type of pre-focussed socket indicated more or less diagrammatically at S. The glass bulb of the lamp having been removed from. the base, the end of the tool is inserted into the base with the gripping members I6 (or Ia) in their retracted positions so that they do not interfere with the insertion of the tool, sleeve 56 and end portion 66 of the holder being engaged with each other to prevent relative turning movement of operating member I2 and holder I4 and thus preventing projection of gripping members I6 during the operation of inserting the tool into the lamp base. When the tool has been inserted in the lamp base withl the end of' the tool properly positioned for engagement of the gripping members with the internal peripheral surface of the shell of the lamp base, as shown for example in Fig. 1, sleeve 56 is released from holder portion 65, and rod i2 is turned by means of its handle 2U for moving the gripping members I6 (or 15a) into engagement with said surface of the base. gripping members move rectilinearly in opposite directions with respect to each other and that they move laterally of the tool so that one end of each gripping member is projected and disposed externally of the tool at a point substantially diametrically opposite the projected end of the other gripping member, while each gripping member has an end which is disposed within the tool. When the gripping members are in engagement With the lamp base, turning of rod I2 in the same direction in which it was turned for projecting the gripping members causes the lamp base to turn in its socket so that it may be removed therefrom.

VIn the type of pre-focussed lamp base and socket shown in Fig. 1, the rod l2 may be turned in either direction to disengage the spaced projections or anges on the lamp base from the holding flanges on the socket and to position the base flanges in the spaces between the socket flanges so that the base can then be Iremoved from the socket by axially withdrawing the base therefrom. However with bases and sockets of other specific types, the rod is turned in the proper direction required to effect removal of the base It will be observed that the 4 from the socket. For example in using the tool to remove a screw threaded lamp base for a screw threaded socket, the rod I2 is turned in a counterclockwise direction (facing the socket) for engaging the gripping members with the base internally of the latter and for unscrewing the base from the socket shell. The ends of gripping members IS (or Ita) are preferably serrated, for example as shown at 88 in Fig. 7, to provide a good grip of said members on the internal surface of the lamp base. It will be understood also that the serrated edges of said gripping members are advantageous when the tool is used for cleaning the cement, broken glass, etc. from the lamp base preliminary to the operation of the tool for removing the lamp base from the socket, and it will be observed that this cleaning operation may be performed by turning operating member l2 in either direction. As indicated in Fig. l, member 56 is provided with rigid linger grips l0 so that the user of the tool may release said member from part 66 by pressing on said grips 'I0 toward handle 2l] while the latter is in the users hand. It will be understood that the tool may be made in -a plurality of different sizes appropriate to lamp bases of different types and sizes.

Various changes in the details of construction and in the arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tool for removing a lamp base from an electric socket, comprising an operating member, a supporting member on which said operating member is mounted for rotation, interengaging means on said members for preventing relative axial movement thereof, a pair of gripping members mounted on said supporting member for movement in relation thereto into and out of engagement with the lamp base internally thereof, said gripping members being movable rectilinearly in opposite directions laterally of said operating memberfrom retracted positions to projected positions, and mechanism operable by turning of said operating member in relation to said supporting member to move said gripping members rectilinearly into and out of engagement with the lamp base, said mechanism comprising laterally spaced crank pins turnable with said operating member and said gripping members having recesses in which said pins enga-ge said gripping members, respectively, for moving them rectilinearly, said supporting member having a part enclosing said gripping members in the retracted positions thereof and provided with openings through which said gripping members are movable, said supporting member having a transverse guide-groove in which said gripping members are movable and said gripping members having adjacent edges in slidable engagement.

2. A tool of the character described, comprising a sleeve, an operating rod mounted in said sleeve co-axially thereof for rotation therein in opposite directions, said sleeve having an end portion extending beyond the adjacent end of said rod, said end portion having diametrically opposed openings therein forming a through opening in said end portion of the sleeve, a pair of gripping members mounted adjacent said end of the rod for movement through said openings of the sleeve in opposite directions transverselyof the rod axis, each gripping member having opposite gripping ends, one of which is movable outwardly through one of said openings and the other of which is movable outwardly through the other of said openings when said operating rod is moved in opposite directions, respectively, and interengaging parts on said rod and said gripping members, respectively, for moving one of said gripping members outwardly through one of said openings and the other gripping member outwardly through the other of said openings when said rod is turned about its axis in either direction.

3. A tool of the character described, comprising a sleeve, an operating rod mounted in said sleeve co-axially thereof for rotation therein in opposite directions, said sleeve having an end portion extending beyond the adjacent end of said rod, said end portion having diametrically opposed openings therein forming a through opening in said end portion of the sleeve, a pair of gripping members mounted adjacent said end of the rod for movement through said openings of the sleeve in opposite directions transversely of the rod axis, each gripping member having opposite gripping ends, one of which is movable outwardly through one of said openings and the other of which is movable outwardly through the other of said openings when said operating rod is moved in opposite directions, respectively, and interengaging parts on said rod and said gripping members, respectively, for moving one of said gripping members outwardly through one of said openings and the other gripping member outwardly through the other of said openings when said rod is turned about its axis in either direction, said interengaging parts comprising recessed portions in said gripping members and pins projecting from said end of the rod in laterally spaced relation oiset laterally from the axis of said rod and engaging said gripping members, respectively, in said recessed portions thereof, respectively.

4. A tool for removing a lamp base from an electric socket, comprising an operating member, a supporting member on which said operating member is mounted for rotation, interengaging means on said members for preventing relative axial movement thereof, a pair of gripping members mounted on said supporting member for movement in relation thereto into and out of engagement with the lamp base internally thereof, said gripping members being movable rectilinearly in opposite directions laterally of said operating member from retracted positions to projected positions, each of said gripping members having gripping portions at their opposite ends, and mechanism operable by turning of said operating member in relation to said supporting member to move said gripping members rectilinearly into and out of engagement with the lamp base, said mechanism comprising parts carried by and turnable with said operating member and said gripping members having recessed portions in which said mechanism parts engage said gripping members, respectively, for moving the latter rectilinearly, said supporting member having a pair of diametrically opposed openings through which oppositely disposed end portions of said gripping members, respectively, are moved to their said projected and retracted positions when said operating member is turned in either direction.

5. A tool for removing a lamp base from an electric socket, comprising an operating member, a supporting member on which said operating member is mounted for rotation, interengaging means on said members for preventing relative axial movement thereof, a pair of gripping members mounted on said supporting member for movement in relation thereto into and out of engagement with the lamp base internally thereof, said gripping members being movable rectilinearly in opposite directions laterally of said operating member from retracted positions to projected positions, each of said gripping members having gripping portions at their opposite ends, and mechanism operable by turning of said operating member in relation to said supporting member to move said gripping members rectilinearly into and out of engagement with the lamp base, said mechanism comprising parts carried by and turnable with said operating member and said gripping members having recessed portions in which said mechanism parts engage said gripping members, respectively, for moving the latter rectilinearly, said gripping members having adjacent longitudinal edges abutting each other in relatively slidable engagement with each other and said supporting member having a pair of diametrically opposed openings through which oppositely disposed end portions of said gripping members, respectively, are moved to their said projected and retracted positions when said operating member is turned in either direction.

JACK SHAPIRO. MARVIN SHAPIRO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

